The 'Council of Chiefs' Gets a Face Lift!

Jim Rutter

08/24/2007

There has been a lot of talk about fresh starts and new beginnings with regard to the 2007 Stanford Football season. It remains to be seen how different things are going to be on the field this fall, but make no mistake, there is one thing that is going to be bigger, better, and hopefully a lot younger! Come join us for a new season of Friday morning merriment at the Council of Chiefs.

Time to set that alarm clock just a wee little earlier on five Friday
mornings this fall. Stanford Football's famed "Council of Chiefs" is just around
the corner and about to convene! It all starts with the Council of Chiefs' 2007
Season Opener next Friday morning, August 31, 2007, at Jimmy V's Sports Café at
the Arrillaga Family Sports Center on the Stanford campus. Doors open at 6:30AM. Program starts at 7:00AM. You will be able to make it to your office by 9:00AM
if you so desire.

There will be five (possibly six) councils this season. For certain, we will
be meeting the Friday mornings before the UCLA, Oregon, TCU, Washington, and
Notre Dame games. We will probably end up with a popular uprising demanding a
sixth convening of the Council prior to the 110th Big Game.

Sign up now, become a member of the Council and reserve your spot today! We
are hoping to rally a large representation from The Bootleg community to help
keep the event lively!

The "Council of Chiefs" is a true institution, one of the last long-standing
Stanford football-related traditions, one that has carried on consistently for
more than half a century. Will have to check the archives for the actual
origins. I know former Palo Alto Times Sports Editor, the late great
Walt Gamage
was one of the earliest of instigators.

Stanford's one and only MC extraordinaire Bob Murphy [LSJU ‘53] has become,
over the course of several decades, a Friday morning Stanford Football icon,
entertaining the "Chiefs" with player and coach interviews, filling the room
with laughter at his amusing anecdotes, and mercilessly needling his many pals
at every opportunity. You have never heard a cacophony of snorts and guffaws
until you have witnessed the aftermath of a Murph joke, which inevitably
involves some combination of Irishmen, Catholics, women and golf.

Whether the Council has taken place at Stickney's, the Holiday Inn, the
Sheraton, Jimmy V's or wherever, it has always been a fan-tastic way to fire up
for the football weekend and a unique opportunity to get to know the terrific
young Stanford players as individual personalities, all while hanging out with
some of the most loyal, supportive fans in the history of the universe. Where
else can you scarf down a plate of eggs and sausage with all-time fans like Lloyd McGovern,
Dan Stone, Jack Laird, Paul Cardoza, Leonard Ely, Crystal Gamage,
Dick Rutter, Ted Tanner, Bob Williams, Ralph Brogdon,
John Eschelman, Steve Docter, Howard & Anita Gaines, and
Joe & Jeanette Mell? A motley crew of ner-do-well troublemakers if there ever was one!

Lars and I used to love showing up and being the youngest guys in the room,
but frankly that has to end. We are well into our 40s and need to welcome a new
generation of wise-guy whippersnappers! This thing is going to go the way of the
dinosaurs if we don't get it rejuvenated with some fresh blood!

Luckily for all of us, primary responsibility for the "Council of Chiefs" has
been assigned to former Cardinal linebacker Jon "Hit Man" Haskins, who joined
the Football Office this past summer. Young Mr. Haskins is working hard to
enhance and enliven the Friday morning program while maintaining its traditional
charm. A variety of upgraded features will be introduced including the
participation of special football alumni guests, coaching chalk-talks, highlight
videos, "Where Are They Now?" features, and terribly tough trivia!

Special Note: This season of the COC is dedicated to the memory of Clarence
"Toots" Vosti, a lifelong Stanford fan who used to make the two-hour drive up
from Gonzales (Calif.) every Friday morning before home games to make it to our
7:00AM gathering! "Toots" is always with us in the "Spirit of Stanford!"

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